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Royal Moroccan Navy

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Royal Moroccan Navy
Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية
Berber languages: Adwas Ageldan n Yilel
French: Marine royale
Moroccan Royal Navy Seal
Active11th century
Country Morocco
AllegianceKingdom of Morocco
BranchNavy
TypeNavy
Size7,800 personnel (includes 1,500 Marines)
Part ofAdministration of Defence إدارة الدفاع
HeadquartersRabat-Salé
AnniversariesApril 1st (foundation)
Equipment121 vessels 17 aircraft
Commanders
Inspector General of the NavyVice-Admiral Mostapha El Alami
Commander-in-ChiefKing Mohammed VI
Insignia
Naval Ensign
Naval Jack
Aircraft flown
HelicopterAS565 Panther

The Royal Navy of Morocco (Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية, Berber: Adwas Ageldan n Yilel, French: Marine royale) is a branch of the military of Morocco responsible for conducting naval operations. The Royal Moroccan Navy is administratively managed by the Administration of Defence, which is (de facto) commanded by King Mohammed VI, the commander-in-chief of the Moroccan Armed Forces.

Mission

The Royal Moroccan Navy is part of the Moroccan Armed Forces. Its mission includes the protection of Moroccan territory and sovereignty, as well as the control of Morocco's 81,000-square-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Given Morocco's significant coastline (2,952 km) and strategic position overseeing the Strait of Gibraltar, it (along with Spain and the United Kingdom) is deeply involved in the security of this important international waterway.

History

The history of the modern Royal Moroccan Navy began in 1960 with its foundation by King Mohammed V. The first admiral of the modern Moroccan Navy was Vice Admiral Mohammed Triki, who held the position as the Commander in Chief of the Royal Moroccan Navy for 14 years from 1991 to 2005, and devoted 46 years of services to the Moroccan Navy. Vice Admiral Triki was awarded these decorations: (from Morocco) Legion of the Order of Commander, Knight of the Order of the Throne by his majesty King Hassan II; (from France) Legion of Honor by President Jacques Chirac; (from USA) Legion of Merit by President Bill Clinton; and (from Spain) Legion of Merit. Although the modern Royal Navy was structured following independence, the Moroccan naval military traces its roots back to the 11th century, with the rise of the Almoravid dynasty, and its ambition for naval hegemony in the Mediterranean Sea. Admiral Abdullah Ben Meimoun is credited for being the first commander of the Almoravid dynasty organized naval forces. With the Almohad dynasty taking over most of northern Africa, together with Al-Andalus, the Almohad dynasty navy soon became the "first fleet of the Mediterranean".[1] At its peak, the Almohad navy's military reputation was well known, inciting Ayyubid dynasty Egypt and Saladin to seek its help in preventing Crusades expeditions. The 16th century had the starting decline of the Moroccan state and consequently the navy that served it. The capture of major coastal cities and locations by Spain and Portugal much affected Morocco's naval capabilities.

Bases

The main bases of the Royal Moroccan Navy are located in:

Equipment

Warships

Class Photo No. Ship Year
Commissioned
Note
Frigates (6)
FREMM 701 Mohammed VI 2014 ASW version[2]
Template:Sclass- 611 Mohammed V 2002
612 Hassan II 2002
Template:Sclass2- 613 Tarik Ben Ziyad 2011 Sigma 10513 version

(Frigate)[3][4]

614 Sultan Moulay Ismail 2012 Sigma 9813 version (multi mission frigate)
615 Allal Ben Abdellah 2012 Sigma 9813 Version (multi mission frigate)
Corvettes (1)
Template:Sclass- Descubierta class Lieutenant Colonel Errahmani 501 Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani 1983 Updated in 2014[5]
Missile boats (4)
Template:Sclass- 304 El Khattabi 1981
305 Commandant Boutouba 1981
306 Commandant El Harty 1982
307 Commandant Azouggarh 1982
Patrol boats (18)
OPV-70 341 Bir Anzaran 341 Bir Anzaran 2011 4 under construction
OPV-64 322 Raïs Al Mounastiri. 318 Raïs Bargach 1995
319 Raïs Britel 1996
320 Raïs Charkaoui 1996
321 Raïs Maaninou 1997
322 Raïs Al Mounastiri 1997
Template:Sclass2- 308 El Lahiq 1987
309 El Tawfiq 1988
316 El Hamiss 1990
317 El Karib 1990
Template:Sclass- 310 Lieutenant De Vaisseau Rabhi 1988
311 Errachiq 1988
312 El Akid 1989
313 El Maher 1989
314 El Majid 1989
315 El Bachir 1989
Template:Sclass2- 302 Okba 1976
303 Triki 1977
Damen Interceptor 1503 1-5 TBD 2016 5 under construction for Coast Guard Duties, capable of 60 knots (110 km/h; 69 mph)

Amphibious and auxiliary vessels

Class Photo No. Ship Year
commissioned
Note
Amphibious ships
Template:Sclass2- 402 Daoud Ben Aicha 1977
403 Ahmed Es Sakali 1977
404 Abou Abdallah El Ayachi 1978
LCT 409 Sidi Ifni landing craft tank[6]
Support ships
Hydrographic and oceanographic boat 804 Dar Al Beida 2018 Used to chart the underwater coastal area[7]
Ad Dakhla CLS 408 Daoud Ben Aicha 1997 coastal logistics ship
Hydrographic research boat H-01 H-01 2011 Used to chart the underwater coastal area.
Damen Stan Tug 2208 A2 Al Mounkid 2015 Coastal & harbour tug[8]
BBP 803 BBP Submariner training ship
Marrakech transport ship ro-ro xxx ro-ro Transport ship ro-ro

Inshore patrol vessels

  • P-32
    • El Wacil ( 203 )
    • El Jail ( 204 )
    • El Mikdam ( 205 )
    • El Khafir ( 206 )
    • El Haris ( 207 )
    • Essahir ( 208 )
    • Erraid ( 209 )
    • Erraced ( 210 )
    • El Kaced ( 211 )
    • Essaid ( 212 )
  • VCSM/RPB 20 (107-116)
  • Rodman-101 (130-139)
  • Arcor-46 (D01-D18) In Service with Moroccan Customs
  • 15 Arcor-53 In Service with Moroccan Gendarmerie
  • 2 Griffon 500TD hovercraft In service with Moroccan Gendarmerie
  • 10 Rodman-55
  • 10 Arcor-17
      • No boats of this class have been built yet. Russia has offered the sub for sale to India, but in 2005, India ordered Scorpène-class submarines instead. On 4 July 2013, Rosoboronexport announced they will offer the Amur 1650 to the Moroccan Navy if they announce a tender for new submarines.[5]

Aircraft

Aircraft Photo Origin Mission In Service Note
Maritime Patrol Aircraft
Britten-Norman Defender  United Kingdom Maritime patrol aircraft 14 Operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force
Beech King Air  United States Maritime patrol aircraft 2
Helicopters
Eurocopter AS565 MA  France Naval Military utility 3 Operated by the Royal Moroccan Navy
Bell 412EP ASW MA  United States Anti-submarine helicopter 2 Ordered two by the Royal Moroccan Navy

Notable sailors

Abdelkader Perez, Admiral and an ambassador to England in 1723.
  • Abdellah Ben Aïcha, admiral of Salé, ambassador to king Louis XIV of France in 1689.
  • Abdelkader Perez, ambassador to England in 1723 and again in 1737.
  • Abdellah Ben Soleïman, commander of the Almohad fleet under sultan [Abd al-Mu'min]
  • Abdellah Ben Taâ Allah, commander of the Almohad fleet under Muhammad an-Nasir and governor of Majorca
  • Corsair Triki of Salé, 17th century.
  • Vice Admiral Mohammed Triki of Safi, Commander in Chief of the Royal Moroccan Navy from July 1991 to June 2005.

See also

References

  • Baker III, A. D. (1998). Combat Fleets of the World 1998-1999. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.
  1. ^ André, Charles-André (1994). Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord. Paris: Payot. p. 866. ISBN 978-2-228-88789-2.
  2. ^ "DCNS delivers multimission frigate Mohammed VI to Royal Moroccan Navy". January 30, 2014. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  3. ^ "Shipbuilding Tribune - First Multi Mission Frigate for Royal Moroccan Navy Starts Sea Trials". web.archive.org. 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  4. ^ "Shipbuilding Tribune - Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Delivers SIGMA Class Frigate to Royal Moroccan Navy". web.archive.org. 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  5. ^ "Royal Moroccan Armed Forces". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-05-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-05-12. Retrieved 2016-05-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-05-29. Retrieved 2016-05-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)